Defective-cigar-bunch detector for cigar machines



March 12, 19404 l 2,192,903

BUNCH DETECTOR FOR GIGAR MACHINES L, FERENCI DEFECTIVE-CIGAR- Original Filed Nov. 22, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ',/IIIlll'llllll/fniii/ ATTORNEY I Mmh12,194o.- .L FERENCI 2,192,903

nEFEcTIvE-CIGAR-BUNCH DETECTOR Foa CIGAR MACHINES original Filed Nov. 22, 19:55 s sheets-sheet 2 I l I l I 1 l I I I l l I 1 l I I INVENTOR ATTORNEY L. FERENCI March l2, 1940.

DEFECTIVE-CIGAR-BUNCH DETECTOR FOR CIGAR MACHINES Original Filed Nov. 22, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Il m I mf m m f m wym M WN l L mw m 3/ P; w@ www www Fw ma mw an QQQ QQN www@ mw M 1 @uw @NQ Nw ww Rf www ww n www, mh, MSN QN Patented Mar. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES DEFECTIVE-CIGAR-BUNCH DETECTOR FOR CIGAR MACHINES Lester Ferenci, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor `to International Cigar Machinery Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 22, 1935, Serial No. 51,055

Renewed March 19 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cigar machines, its main object being to mechanically inspect the cigar bunches and to automatically prevent application of wrappers to bunches having soft heads.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of scrap bunch cigars the bunches, after being made by hand or in a scrap bunch machine, were transferred to a soft work rolling machine wherein the bunches were concentrated or molded and wrapped and trimmed to the desired length. Since the bunches were generallytransferred manually to the concentrator or bunch molding turret of the soft work rolling machine, the attendant` could detect and reject the defective bunches. In the soft work rolling machine selected to illustrate one embodiment of the invention the defective bunch is detected by a yieldingly mounted pin on the bunch-ejector of the turret, this pinprojecting slightly above the other ejector pins, to impinge the cigar bunch in the mold just before its cover` has been removed. Upon encountering a normal bunch, the feelerpin recedes thereby opening a low-tension circuit connected to a solenoid. When the bunch is soft, the pin does not recede but presses into the bunch and maintains a posilfion closing the circuit. Likewise, when there is no bunch in the mold the circuit is closed by the ieeler pin. Somewhat later in the cycle of operations, a timing switch in the low-tension circuit makes Contact fora limited time and,`when the feeler switch is closed in case of a soft bunch or a missing bunch, energizes the solenoid, thereby actuating a stop-lever which prevents the suction from being cut oiF in the Wrapper carrier and wrapper-cutting bed. The engagement of a set screw places the feeler in contact position at the end of each bunch-ejection movement, and a cam is provided toreset the stop-lever at each cycle of the machine.

Generally stated, in` the particular embodiment of the invention herein illustrated an operation is performed on a cigar bunch by movabie means carrying a `member or members moving therewith and engaging the bunch to detect the presence of a defective bunch or the absence of .a bunch. In the best constructions contemplated the bunches may be supported in an intermittently rotating bunch molding turret having l.ni-ejector provided with feelers arranged to detect a defective bunch or the absence of a bunch at the ejecting station of the turret and thereupon acuating mechanism for incapacitating the mechansrn :for applying wrappers to the ejected bunches. Preferably, the incapacitating mechanism interrupts the upward movement of the sucticnhead which would otherwise present the out wrapper to the wrapper carrier to be transported to the bunch `wrappin'gdevice, and prevents the suction from being cut offfrom the cutting bed and head and also prevents the application of suction to the wrapper carrier.

The specic structure selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the details illustrated and described nor to the particular embodiment chosen as illustrative of the invention, but may be widely Varied in construction.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specication and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammaticv soft work rolling machine automatic inspection device;

Fig. 2- is an end elevation viewed from line 2 2 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation from line 3-3 of Fig. 1 on a Vsimilar enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of an alternative form of construction; and Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation of the same taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, the bunch B expelled from the bunch concentrator or molding turret 5 is carried by a bunch transfer of Well known construction comprising a swinging transfer arm 6, to a Abunch wrapping device '1, of conventional construction such as that shown in `Patent No. 1,915,277, granted June 27, 1933, on the application of J. F. Halstead, the end positions 6 and 6 of this transfer arm corresponding to the bunch positions B' and B. Meanwhile, the attendant spreads a tobacco leaf W on the wrapper die of the cutting bed 8 and a wrapperis cut therefrom in the usual manner by cutting rollers (not shown) which move across the wrapper die.

side elevation of a equipped with the The leaf is held by suction on the bed 8 while the wrapperW is being cut, and the cut wrapper is picked up by the hollow wrapper carrier 9 and transported to the bunchA wrapping device l in the customary manner. For this purpose the bed 8 and the rwrapper carrier 9 communicate with a common suction chamber I0, and the suction inthe bed and carrier is controlled by slide valves `II and I2 respectively, the valve II being closed and the valve I2 opened by a cam, as" will be presently described, while the wrapper is beingpicked up by the carrieriB. The chamber I is connected to a suction conduit I3 which communicates with a suitable source of suction (not shown). .Thewrapper carrier 9 may be supported in.any suitableor desirable manner, forexample .it may have a hollow stem pivotally mounted, asshown in Patent No. 1,539,274, granted May 26, 1925, on the application of R. E. Rundell, ina lever arm I4 having its hub mounted in'theffree end of a `hollow arm Illa fastened on the upper end offashaft I5. The latter may be intermittently rocked in the manner hereinafter described, or by a cam-actuated gear sector as shown in the patent referred to above, the arm 14h of the lever I4 being provided with a roller engaging a track in a fixed cam as shown in said patent, wherefore the wrapper carrier will beI moved from position 9 above the bed 8 toposition 9 adjacent the wrapping device 1 in each cycle of the machine'. While the carrier is in position 9 the suction head I1 of the bed 8 is*- raised by a cam lever as hereinafter described., to press the cut wrapper against the bottom of the carrier 9, whereupon the suction is cut off from the bed 8 and its head I1 and applied to the car-- rier. For this purpose,

communicates through the lever I4 and arm I4ar with a hollow column I6 in direct communica-- tion with the chamber, the shaft I5 being jour naled in bearings provided in the chamber and. column. When the carrier is at position 9" it isy turned in its mounting in the lever I4 to pay off the wrapper to the bunch being wrapped in the device 1, by an arm 9bon the upper end of itsI stem connected to linkage controlled by the fixed cam as shown in the patent referred to above.. Since the details of construction of the carrier 9* and the device 1 are well known in the art, fur-- ther description thereof is deemed unnecessary.. The covers I8 of the mold pockets I9 are suc-- cessively removed at the ejecting station of turret. 5 by mechanism (not shown) of any well known. type, such as shown in the patent to R'. E.. Rundell, No. 1,838,157, issued December 29, 1931,. provided for this purpose, and the bunch B is'v lifted out of the mold by a group of ejector pins 28 so arranged on a holder 2I that their tips form. a cradle for the bunch. The holder 2l is attached to.a head 22 mounted on a vertical slide rod 23 which is actuated by a cam lever 24 fulcrumed on a shaft 25 and having a cam roller 26 in engagement with a cam groove 21 of a face.I cam 28. The rod 23 slides in a bracket 29 of the machine and is guided by a pin 38 also sliding in. member 29.

The transfer arm 6, which is provided with grippers 3| automatically actuated in a well known manner such as shown in the patent to= J. F. Halstead, No. 1,786,608, issued December 30, 1930, for gripping and releasing the bunch, is-l periodically swung to and fro by a rack 32 connected to a cam lever 33 fulcrumed on a shaft 34'- supported by a frame member 35. The cam lever' 33 carries a cam roller 36 engaging with a second cam groove 31 of face cam 28. The suction head I1 is connected by a rod 38 to a cam lever 39 ful-- crumed on shaft 25 and having a cam roller 49 held against a plate cam 4l by a tension spring' 42. The valves II and I2 are connected by links 43 and 44 to a cam lever 45 fulcrumed on shaft 25 and having a cam roller 46 whichis held against a plate cam 41 by a spring 48. The turret 5, bunch wrapping device 1 and the shaft I5 of the wrapper carrier 8 are driven through chains 49, 5I) and 5I, respectively, from the cam shaft 52 and thus operate in synchronism with one another. The chain 5I drives a drum cam 5|Ia provided with a circumferential cam groove, and the shaft I5 carries a lever I5a provided with. a cam roller engaging said cam groove. The turret is provided with any suitable form of intermittent device (not shown) driven by chain 49, that shown in Patent No. 1,838,157, granted December 29, 1931, on the application of R. E. Rundell, being suitable for this purpose.

In order to prevent the Wrapper carrier 9 from the bed 8 communicates.v with the suction chamber I8, and the carrier'` taking a wrapper from the suction head I1 in case there is no bunch or an imperfect bunch in the mold pocket I8 which is about to be uncovered, the ejector pin 28' adjacent the head end of the bunch is attached to a separate holder 53 (Figs. 1 and 2) mounted on an upright pin 54 slidable in lugs 55 of bracket 22 and guided by a pin 56 xed in the holder and sliding in the upper lug 55. To pin 54 is pivotally connected an arm 51 fast on one end of a shaft 58 journaled in bearings provided in the bracket 22. Suitable yieldable means are provided for preventing rotation of the shaft 58 and thereby maintaining the pin 28 at the desired level with respect tothe pins 28, comprising in the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration herein a friction disk 59, a thrust washer 69 seated against a shoulder of shaft 58 and pressed against disk 59 by a compression spring 6I seated. against the bracket 22 and bearing against a nut 62 threaded on shaft 58, whereby the friction of the disk 59 against the washer 69 may be regulated. On the other or rear end of shaft 58 is loosely mounted an arm 63 carrying an insulated contact pin 64 which is held against a stationary contact rail 65 mounted on an insulating block 66 attached to frame member 29, by a tension spring 61 anchored to the hub of an arm 68 fastened on shaft 58. The arm 68 as its ends carries stop screws 69 and 10.

The pin 28 is periodically set by mechanism hereinafter described so as to contact the bunch B slightly in advance of the remaining pins 28 and just before the cover I8 of the mold I9 has been lifted, the pin 20' being maintained in this slightly advanced position by the yieldable means described above preventing rotation of the shaft 58, while the head 22 is being raised by the rod 23. When the bunch has a solid head of proper hardness, the pin 28 the remainder of the ejector pins have come in contact with the bunch, whereupon the floating holder 53 will meet the bracket 22 and all the pins will rise together. This relative motion between the holder 53 and the bracket 22 causes the arm 51 to turn the shaft 58 and, with it, the arm 68 through a small angle, thereby causing the screw 69 to raise the pin 64 off the rail 65. It will be understood that the nut 62 may be adjusted on shaft 58 to cause the pin 29' to yield for any predetermined hardness of the bunch.

But, if the bunch in mold I9 has an imperfectly filled or soft head, or if there is no bunch in .the mold as will happen at the start and finish of a run, the feeler pin 20' will not be fr arrested by its Contact with the bunch and all the pins will advance together as the rod 23 moves upward. There then being no relative motion between holder 53 and bracket 22, the shaft 58 will not turn and hence the pin 64 will remain in contact with rail 65.

The contact 64, 65 is part of the low-tension electric circuit of a step-down transformer 1I connected by leads 12 to high-tension supply lines 13. One terminal of the low-voltage side of the transformer is connected by a lead 14 to the pin 64, and the rail 65 is connected by the lead 15 to the stationary contact of a timer switch 16 of conventional construction, vthe rotary contact maker of which is mounted on cam shaft 52. A brush bearing against the hub of the rotary contact maker is connected by a lead 11 to one end of the coil of a relay 18 connected by a lead 19 to the other terminal of the low-voltage side o1' the transformer.

`88 in frame member 35 V more than'one place,

`laioaeo's 'meunier switch is Yisset tercios@ for a short period at a time just priorto the upwarddisplacement of cam lever 39, which actuates Vthe `suction head Il' and which is followed bythe action ofv cam lever l5 operating the suction valves Il and l2.` When vthe contact `64,165 is closed, in case of a the relay "it will be energized to close the relay contacts 30, thus establishing a lclosed circuit from one line i3 throughl leads 8|, 82 through a solenoid Sri to the other line i3. The solenoid is thus energized and-its core is thereby moved inthe direction of thearrow.

A connecting rod 8d, this motion to an arm 8l iulcrumed on a shaft and carrying blocks 89 and which thereupon engage with pins 9| and 92 in the horizontal arms of cam levers .38 and 45, respectively, and prevent their upward displacement by their tension springs 42 and i3 which `would otherwise occur when theiry cam rollers 4G and fit ride over the low portions ci their cams M and 4T. The arm 8'! is `provided with spaced stop screws 3 and 915 and a cylindrical boss (i5, a compression spring 96 in the bore of the boss pressing a ball Sil into one of the two Vrecesses .S8 in a rib 99 extending from frame member Se and thereby locking the arm 81 in each o'i its end positions wherein either of the stop screws 93 and @d abuts the adjacentside of the rib 99. v

.As the ejector pins 2Q recede, and when the bracket 22 has arrived ina position 22 a small distance from its lowermost position 22", Fig. 2, the stop screw 'lc in arm G6 engages an abutment me on frame members 29,' thus turning the arm` 68 and turning the shaft "5d to raise the holder 53 to a position wherein its pin 2d will engage the next bunch, during the next upward stroke of the bracket 122, slightly ahead oi the pins 20. Furthermore, the screw t9 is returned to its initial position so that the spring 61 will pull pin Ed back into contact with rail 65, if that contact lhas previously been opened by a perfect bunch.

To the periphery of cam 28 is attached a cam piece lili, Figs. 1 and `3, which engages a roller lili carried by an arm it extending from the hub oi'lock lever @1in case' the arm 31 has been turned into locking position by the action of solenoid Bri, due to a missing bunch, or the presence of imperfect bunch mold I9. Thereupon the arm Ict is turned back and the `lock lever 81 reset into neutral position.` I

If it is `desired to feel the cigar bunch in ejector pins 2li are replaced by feelers similar to the head pin 2i" and similarly connected 'to a corresponding number of` separate shafts "58` equipped with contact pins 6ft. By -then connecting all the contact pins 5l?, in'parallel in the lowtensicn circuit, the currentwill `liow through the relay 'i3 when any one of these pins failsto break the corresponding 'contact on rail 65, and the energizing of solenoid `Bft `will swing the stop lever Sl, into locking position, thus preventing the `upward motion of suction head I1 and the actuation of the valves H and l2 which would otherwise cut 01T thesuction in the head Il and appiy it to the wrapper carrier.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, pins 2li and 20c may be arranged to Vfeel the head and tuck ends vrespectively, of the bunch and the intermediate pins 2da and 2th are suitably spaced from each other to feel `different points along the circumference of the' bunch. The head end pin 2D is defective or missing bunch, tion of Figs. 1 and 3, transmits seated against the bracketv 32 suitable number of the in a holder 53 lcarried by an upright pin 54 sliding in lugs 55 of the ejector bracket 22, the holder being provided with 'a guide pin sliding yin the upper lug 55. The pin 54 is connected by the link 51 to the shaft 58 to bedepressed against the fricthe friction disk 59 on the rthrust washer 6l), which is seated against a shoulder of shaft 58 and pressed against the disk by the axial thrust imposed on the shaft by a springnn the same manner as described above, whenever the pin enccuhters the head end of anormal bunch. In this event the contact maker 64, which is mounted 'on shaft 53, is swung awayfrom the contact. v

rail 55 andthe circuitthroughthe same is thereby broken. The pins 26a., Zlib and 20c are mounted in blocks 53d, 53h and 53o carried by pins Elia,

and, are similarly connected by links 58h and 58o. These shafts are each provided with a iriction disk against which a thrust washer is pressed by an axial thrust imposed on the shafts through the agency of compression springs and bearing against nuts threaded on the shafts. l

The contactl makers dit, 64a, 5th and @llc are each carried by arms t3, 63a, 63h and 63cwhich are loose on their respective shafts and provided with tension springs connecting them to arms $8, 58a, ddh andlc fastened on the respective shafts, whereby the contact makers are normally heldagainst the contact rail.` The arms 68, 58a,

68h and @de carry adjustable stop screwsV at their ends. Should any of the feeler pins encounter a single or several soft spots in the bunch, or in case a bunch is missingvat the ejector station of the 'concentrator turret, one or more contact makers will remain in circuit-closing position and the delivery of the wrapper to the wrappingA mechanism will be prevented in that cycle of the machine.

While in trade usage the term cigar bunch and cigar wrapper have a narrow technical ,meaning lthese terms are employed herein in their broad sense, in the absence of specic language to the contrary. Thus, the term cigar bunch as used in the claims may refer to a charge without a binder as wellas toa charge having a binder, known to the trade as a cigar bunch. not limited to the spirally wound outer wrapping but may refer to such. binders or wrappings as constitute the sole wrapper, such as in Toscani Cigars. v 4

What is claimed is 1. In ya cigar machine, the combination with mechanism for applying awrapper to a cigar bunch, of means for shaping a cigar bunch, bunch transfer instrumentalities for transporting a bunch lrcnfi` said means to said mechanism, and a device for detecting the absence oi a bunch and the presence of a defective bunch in said means and thereupon incapacltating said mechanism.

In a cigar machine, the combination with mechanism for applying a wrapper to a cigar bunch,"oi meansvfor 'shapinga cigar bunch,

f bunch transferiinstrurhentalities for transporting a` bunch from said means 3. In a cigar machine, the combination with mechanism rfor applyinga wrapper to a cigar Similarly, `the term cigar wrapper is reo bunch, oi means for shaping a cigar bunch, bunch transfer instrumentalities for transporting a bunch from said means to said mechanism, a device for detecting the absence of a bunch and the presence of a defective bunch in saidl means and thereupon incapacitating said mechanism, saidr bunch shaping means including an intermit-` tently rotating bunch molding turret, and said device including a member acting to engage the bunches in successive pockets of said turret'at one station thereof and thereby detect the absence of bunches therein or the presence of de- -fective bunches.

4. In a cigar machine having bunch shaping means, the combination With mechanism for applying a wrapper to the shaped bunch, oi a device ior detecting defective bunches in the shaping means, and mechanism controlled by said device for preventing the application of a Wrapper to the defective bunch.

5. In a cigar machine, the combination With an intermittently rotating turret provided with a plurality of bunch molding pockets, of a member for ejecting thebunches from successive pockets of said turret, and a device carried by said member for detecting the absence of bunches in the successive pockets and the presence of defective bunches therein.

6. In a cigar machine, the combination with an intermittently rotating turret provided with a plurality of bunch molding pockets, of a member for ejecting the bunches from successive pockets of said turret, a device carried by said member for detecting the absence oi bunches in the successive pockets and the presence of a defective bunches therein, mechanism for Wrapping the ejected bunches, and means controlled by said device for incapacitating said mechanism when the absence of a bunch or the presence of a defective bunch is detected in one of molding'pockets.

7. In a cigar machine, the combination with an intermittently rotating turret provided with a plurality of bunch molding pockets, of a member for ejecting bunches from successive pockets of said turret, and a device carried by said member for detecting the absence of bunches in the successive pockets.

8. In a cigar machine, the combination with an intermittently rotating turret provided with a plurality of bunch molding pockets, of a member for ejecting bunches from successive pockets of said turret, and a device carried by said member for detecting the absence of bunches in the successive pockets, mechanismI for Wrapping the bunches, and means controlled by said device for incapacitating said mechanism When the absence of a bunch is detected in one of said pockets.

9. In a cigar machine, the combination with an intermittently rotating turret provided with a plurality of bunch molding pockets, a member for ejecting the bunches from successive pockets of said turret, and a device carried by said member for detecting the presence of defective bunches in the successive pockets.

10. In a cigar machine, the combination with an intermittently rotating turret provided with a plurality of bunch molding pockets, a member for ejecting the bunches from said successive pocketsfof said turret, a device carried by said member for detecting the presence of defective bunches in the successive pockets, mechanism for wrapping the ejected bunches, and means con- Talca-,903

. trolled by said -device for preventing thel wrap-- ping of a defective bunch. 11. In a cigar machine, the

combination with an intermittently rotating turret provided with a plurality of bunch molding pockets, of a device for detecting the absence of a normal bunch or the presence of a defective bunch in any one of said pockets.

12. In a cigar machine, the combination With an intermittently rotating turret provided with a plurality of bunch molding pockets, of a device for detecting defective bunches in said pockets.

13. In a cigar machine, the combination with an intermittently rotating turret provided With a plurality of bunch molding pockets, of a device for detecting in said pockets bunches hav` ing soft headsf 14. In a cigar machine, the combination with an intermittently rotating turret provided With a plurality of bunch molding pockets, of a device for detecting in said pockets bunches having soft spotsI along their entire length.

15. In a cigar machine, the combination with a support for a cigar'bunch, of a device for detectingr defective bunches in said support, said device including members spaced along the circumference of the bunch in said support to engage and thereby detectsoft spots at different points on the circumference of the bunch.

16. In a cigar machine, the combination with mechanism for wrapping cigar bunches, of a wrapper-cutting bed including a wrapper die and a vertically movable suction head within said die, a wrapper carrier for transporting Wrappers from said head to said Wrapping mechanism, a suction chamber communicating with said bed and carrier, means for reciprocating said head to present the Wrapper to said carrier and means thereupon cutting offl the suction from said head, and mechanism for detecting a defective bunch in the machine and thereupon incapacitating both of said means.

17. In a cigar machine, the combination with mechanism for Wrapping cigar bunches, oi a Wrapper-cutting bed including a Wrapper die and a movable suction head within said die, a wrapper carrier for transporting Wrappers from said head to said mechanism, means for actuating said head to present the Wrapper to said carrier, and mechanism for detecting a defective bunch in the machine and thereupon incapacitating said means.

18. The combination with a carrier for transporting a cut tobacco leaf section to a predeter-` mined position, oi a cutting bed including a die for cutting a section from leaf tobacco and a suction head within said die, mechanism for raising said head to present the cut leaf section to said carrier, arid means for locking said mechanism to prevent the upward movement of said head and delivery of cut sections to said carrier.

19. In a cigar machine, the combination with bunch Wrapping mechanism, of means for periodically supplying wrappers to said mechanism, a bunch transfer for supplying bunches to` said mechanism, and a` device for detecting defective bunches and incapacitating said Wrapper supplying means upon detection of a defective bunch and automatically reinstating said Wrapper supplying means at a predetermined point inthe next machine cycle prior to the transportation of the next bunch by said transfer.

LESTER FERENCI. 

